Stuffed Tomatoes in Tomato Season

This past week while driving someone was talking about cars at the Volo Auto Museum and explained that they had Disney characters from the movie Cars including Tow Mater.  Now I have seen the move Cars and love the characters in it, but for some reason without the visual, my brain went somewhere else entirely, like how clever it was to take a word kids would know and a color they love and make it a character they can like and learn from… Get the picture?  I think this time of year I have tomatoes on the brain.  The vines are brimming with fruit, the farmer’ Market is selling tomatoes at a lower price so more of them move out, and even the grocery store fruit is of a better quality.

Got an over abundance of tomatoes?!? Looking for a cool, light and refreshing side…or even a main dish dinner?!? Well, stuffed tomatoes are THE way to go!

Stuffed Tomatoes with Avocado Salad
   4 large tomatoes
   1 avocado, diced
   About 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely chopped
   1 jalapeno, finely chopped
   2 garlic cloves, crushed
   1/2 tsp ground cumin
   1 tsp lemon juice
   Salt and pepper to taste

Cut a cone around the stem bud, cutting out the center portion of the tomato. Scoop out the seeds. (So it won't be so "runny" when you fork into it.) In a mixing bowl, toss together the avocado, onion, jalapeno, crushed garlic, ground cumin and lemon juice. Season with a little salt and pepper.  Stuff the Avocado Salad into the Tomatoes.

Grilled Stuffed Heirloom Tomatoes
  4 orange tomatoes (or you can use any cool heirloom tomato you find)
   1 15 oz. can sliced black olives
   1/2 cup goat cheese blended with 2 tsp. of Herbs de Provence Seasoning

Cut a cone around the stem bud, cutting out the center portion of the tomato. Scoop out the seeds. In a mixing bowl, fork the Herbs De Prevence into the goat cheese until well incorporated,  then toss the black olive slices with the goat cheese and stuff into the awaiting tomatoes. Place the stuffed tomatoes on a hot grill and grill for about 5-8 minutes, or until goat cheese gets oozy…and the tomato skin begins to wrinkle.

If these two recipes don’t make you hungry, try any of these suggestions for a stuffing materials:
 
Tuna Salad
Rosemary Chicken Salad
Corn and Black Bean Salsa
Guacamole